Bolster centering device



April 14, 1942.

R. LEPPLA oLsTER CENTERING DEVICE:

Filed March 10,?1941 l x l I L ll |NVEN`TOR Rudolph -LePPLa Y ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 14, 1942 B'o-Ls'rEn CENTERING DEVICE Rudolph Leppla, Davenport, Iowa, assignor lto Zimmerman Steel Company, Bettendorf, Iowa, a corporation of, Iowa Application March 10, 1941, Serial No. 382,604 K K' 5 Claims. (,Ql. 105-193) This invention relates to car trucks'and more particularly to a device for centering the bolster and for cushioning endwise movements of the bolster. f

The invention has for its object to providea simple and effective device for yieldably holding" the truck bolster in the central position and `for cushioning and limiting the endwise movements of the bolster. Q

A further object is to provide a centering device which is not aiected by vertical rocking movements of the bolster.

A further object of the invention is to provide a centering device which is of simple and rugged'k construction, which comprises a minimum amount of space and which adds but little to the cost of manufacture of the truck.

with the above and other objects in View, thevv invention may be said to Acomprise the bolster centering device as illustrated in the accompanying drawing hereinafter described and particularly set forth in the appended claims, together with such variations and modifications thereof as will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. l y

Reference should be had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of thissp'ecication, yin

which: y

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the transom and bolster of a railway car truck equipped with the,

centering device of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan viewof the transom and bolster, a portion Vof the transonr being broken away to show one of the twoidentical centering and cushioning devices in section;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line indicated at 3-3 in Fig. l; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the guide block which is interposed between the bolster and transom.

The accompanying drawing shows the centering device of the present invention interposed between the transom and bolster of a railway car truck. The truck is provided with side frames I which are connected by a transom, which comf prises two spaced crossbeams 2 rigidly connected and mounted at their ends in the central openings of the side frames I andv which are held against endwise movement with respect to the side frames by suitable means such as lugs 3 on the transom engaging the side frames. A bolster 4 is mounted for vertical movement between the crossbeams 2 and is supported at its ends upon suitable springs 5 which are interposed between the bolster and a supporting spring plank 6 which is suspended fromthe crossbeams by meansof' links 1, which are connected by pivots 8`at their upper ends to the crossbeams 2 and by pivots 9 at their lower ends to the spring plank 6. The bolster 4 is yieldingly supported on the springs 5 and has vertical movements between the crossbeams 2 due to-the cushioning action of the springs 5 and' may also have vertical rocking movements clue to A greater compression of the springs at one end or the'other of the bolster. The`bolster may' also move endwise by reason of the pivotal support of the spring plank onthesuspension links 1. l

The device of thepresent invention is designed ,to centerthe bolster with respect to the side 1frames, and to cushion and limit the endwisel movements'of the bolster. Substantially midway between its ends each of the crossbeams 2 'i'sprovided with a longitudinal recess I Ilopening to theA side 'facing the bolster and at each end ofthe recess I Il there is a spring pocket II which opens into the' end of the recess, the spring pockets extending longitudinally ofthe {crossbeams A;

gm'de block lz'is siidabiy mounted in the recess' In of each crossbeam and is normally held in a position substantially midway between the`r endsY of the'rece'ss by meansof coil springsll3 seated in the pockets I I `and engaging opposite side faces of the block I2. I

5.., The guide block I 2 carried by-each crossbeam'is /U constrained to horizontal movement longitudinally of the crossbeam in the recess Illof thecrossbeam which provides a horizontal4 guide for I the block ,and each of the guide blocks I2 i's` so connected to the bolsterY that it is constrained to vertical movement with respect to the bolster.

As herein shown, each guide block I2 has a vertij cal groove I4 on the side thereof which faces the bolster and the bolster is provided on each side with an integral lug I5 which slides vertically in I the groove I4 of the adjacent guide block I 2. The grooves I4 and the lugs I5 provide vertical tongue and groove guides for the blocks I2 which permit the bolster to move verticallywith respect to the guide blocks I2 and constrain the blocks I2 to movements horizontally with the bolster whenever an endwise movement is imparted to the bolster. The horizontal movement of the guide blocks I 2 in either direction is resisted by one of the coil springs I3 and the extent of endwise movement of the bolster is limited by engagement of the guide blocks I2 with the ends of the recesses IIl,.the springs I3 being movable into the pockets II to permit engagement of the blocks with the ends of the recesses I0 when a severe thrust in the direction of its length is exerted upon the bolster. f Y

The guide blocks I2 and the lugs I5 are preferably located substantially midway between the ends of the bolster, at whichpoint the bolster has a minimum range of vertical movement and at which point there is a minimum lateral movement of the lugs I5 due to rocking movements of the bolster and substantial pressure is exerted upon the cushioningrsprings I3 only when the bolster is moved bodily in an endwise direction. The guide blocks I2 may have sufiicient clearing membericomprising a guide block mounted on one of said members substantially midway between the ends thereof for horizontal movements lengthwise of saidv members; said guide block having a vertical guide groove, spring pockets formed in the imember upon which said guide block is mounted and disposed upon opposite sides of said guide members, said pockets having their open endsl facing said guilde block, stop shoulders forlimiting the -horizontal movements of the blocks, compression coil springs mounted in saidv pockets and engaging opposite sides of ance in the recesses' I0 to permit theblockstog have slight rocking movementsin the recesses when the bolster is tilted and clearance may -also be providedbetween the side facesof the lugsl I5 and the side walls of the grooves I4 to permit slight rocking movements of :the lugs in the grooves I4. Also, by providing a centering and cushioning device midway between the ends'of the lbolster, the-mounting of the/#centering and movements -zwith 4respect tofthefside framesand another-,of-said,members being Va car body supporting member Imounted for vertical and endwise'movements with #respect -to. the other mem ber; a fcentering device yfor Athe vmovable supportingrimember Acomprising aguide block mounted on one of said members substantially Vmidway be-iV tween the ends thereof for horizontalfmovements lengthwise rof said =members; *said guide' block havingJ fvertical guide groove,l a lug'inv'the'other off-said` members engaging rin said, groove, compression,i coil springsr'engaging opposite' sides of said l:guide block, jand shoulders on ythe member f the whichcarries thei guide block for limiting extent of movement of the block.

2;.MIn--a car ytruck havingfside frames andepar-l yallel :crossmembers between the'side frames, one;

of f 'said` cross Vmembers being `held against lateral -movements with .respect to the side frames and. anotherof said members-being a carbody sup` portingfm'ernber mounted for vertical and endwiseimovements with respectV to the otherl inemk berg;v al" centering device for `the Vmovable support` at` aY distance from-thebolster supporting l* .andjcushioning elements. 1 f 1 said block,V and a lug on the vertically movable member engaging in said vertical groove. '3;' In a car -'truck,vside frames, parallel crossjbearns extendingacross the space between the side -frames,a spring supported bolster mounted ffor vertical andendwise movements between said crossbeams, a pair of guide blocks mounted in the opposed sides of said crossbeams vfor sliding movement ,longitudinally of said -,beams,;gsaid guide lloks having fyrticalygroves in. their fop: posed gfaces, Sprngsengaging said guidey blocks toresist 4sliding movements thereof, and lugs on opposite sides Y; of said bolsterlfengaging in .said

flnla'l car truck, side framesLparallelIl cross,- beamsextendingacrossthespace between the side frames, vsaid crossbeams havinglollgiilldi-` nally c.extending recesses in their opposed. faces and sprilflfgv pockets in. alinement 'with said -re7 cesses 'and opening into the ends thereof, Ya spring supported bolster mountedffor vertical. and endwisernovenientslbetween said cro's'sb earns',.a` guide block -slidably mounted ineach of said recesses,

` said..l Ablocks having vertical Vguide -groovesuon ends thereof and springjpockets y opposite sidesof sfaid': guide block. 5,In a ,car truck si lie, frames,

beams y,extending across 'the space /be'tweenzthe their opposed faces, lugs vcarried bythe'bolsten and engaging Xin-said grooves, Aand compression coil Vsprings seated in saidpockets and 'engaging parallelcrlossf,

side; Aframes, Y lsaid .cos'sbearns havingv l,lfongitufdia nally ,extendingv recesses inv Itheir opposed; side faces located substantially, midway, ybetween the alin'ed with the Vrecessesan'd opening finto the ends, thereof. a

springsupported bolster mounted for vertical andl endwise l,movements between said ,cross beams, ta, guidejolockslidably'mounted ineach `of said recesses andprojectinginto the 'space' betweenthe. crossbeam Vv.and bolster, a., vertical tongue and groove connection between said guide 'block *andy bolster, and compression ,coil springs satedi'n said pocketsfgandy engaging ,opposite sides of saidguideblock.A g 1 v ,A i RUDOLPHLEPPLA, 

